At this date 16 years ago, during the last open mayor’s race for Indianapolis/Marion County we already had both the Democratic and Republican candidates ready to go.
The 2015 mayor’s race is shaping up to be unusual, unpredictable; a free for all. Republicans haven’t found their candidate(s) yet. There’s one declared African-American in the race, self-proclaimed independent Sam Carson; (though apparently Rev. Charles Harrison is about to jump into the mix.)
As the senior African-American in Indianapolis media, and one of Indy’s most senior columnists and commentators, I will put all mayoral candidates on the spot on key issues affecting our city/county.
In my view, here’s the qualities our next mayor must possess:
Learn & understand Indianapolis history
Greg Ballard was the first Indy mayor in a long time that didn’t fully understand or appreciate Indianapolis’ history. The next mayor must learn that history – the good, successful and the bad; especially Indy’s past racist practices. As English statesman Edward Burke said, “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.”
Develop an awareness of Indianapolis, circa 2015
Greg Ballard seemed not to understand that Indianapolis has always been a working class, blue collar, middle class town.
Ballard’s lack of understanding of Indianapolis’ current demographics led him to buy into the absurdity that Indy’s economic salvation was dependent upon thousands of mostly white 25 – 44 year-olds making more than $50,000 a year moving into Indy.
Belief in that false fable led to Ballard’s tone deafness toward the Indianapolis’ growing poverty and unemployment these past five years.
Despite Indy’s alleged lower jobless rate, many residents are not making the money they did seven years ago. Or have the standard of living they enjoyed 16 years ago. The next mayor must deal with that reality.
Jobs for Indy residents should be Job One-B
Assuming that public safety will again be Job One for Indy’s next mayor. Then Job One-B must be Jobs for Indy residents!
The next mayor should embark on a full court press to develop abandoned areas of our city. Metro Indianapolis has plenty of areas where, with creative incentives and a strong mayoral push, companies and jobs for Indy can and must be developed.
Let downtown fend for itself
If I believe Downtown Indy’s propaganda, our downtown is booming. I see it daily myself. Great! So our next mayor needs to say Downtown’s healthy enough, so no more government incentives or subsidies, including TIF money, for private sector downtown projects. The private sector can handle it.
Really care about neighborhoods
I believe Mayor Ballard ran our city with a cavalier attitude. He seemingly just didn’t care about neighborhood, quality of life issues, unless you were talking a bike lane or cricket field.
The next mayor needs to care about Indy’s neighborhoods. We need a mayor who, when he’s driven around Indy at night, makes notes of non-working streetlights and has staff check it out.
Indy doesn’t have time for “one-issue” candidates
For some, running for office can be a big ego trip. But Indianapolis’ 928,281 residents don’t have time for ego-tripping mayoral candidates.
That includes candidates perceived as “one issue” candidates. Yes, I’m talking about Rev. Charles Harrison’s rumored entry into the race and any other candidate seemingly running on just one issue.
Indy expects everyone who puts their name on the paperwork to run for mayor to be prepared to address every potential issue.
Our next mayor must be able to run a billion dollar enterprise with thousands of employees covering 396 square miles of territory.
End mayoral disrespect of Black media
The mayor of America’s 11th largest city never granting interviews to the oldest Black newspaper in his city or state is disgraceful. So is Ballard’s refusal to appear on Black radio in prime time programs.
When he leaves office, Greg Ballard will have granted the fewest interviews with Black media than any mayor in the UniGov era, perhaps in Indianapolis’ 193-year history.
Mayors of the cities ahead of Indy in Black population, regularly give interviews with their Black media.
How Indy’s mayoral candidates treat Black media is a 2015 campaign issue. Because it demonstrates how a mayor will treat Indianapolis’ 267,563 African-American community.
What I’m Hearing in the Streets
Bill Smith was a Hoosier basketball legend. Coaching Broad Ripple’s Rockets to a 1980 state high school championship. Smith was Center Township Trustee between two legends – Dr. Benjamin Osborne and Julia Carson. A great coach and mentor to young men, Smith died last week. My deepest sympathies to his family and thanks for a life well lived.
See ‘ya next week!
You can write Amos Brown at ac-brown@aol.com.
